By: Laurel Marewibuel
Koror, Palau (Sept. 1, 2025) — “This workshop has helped me understand journalism better and taught me a lot about being a reporter,” one participant said after completing a two-day training led by Professor Steven Youngblood of the East-West Center in Honolulu.
The media workshop, held Aug. 28–29 at the One Stop Shop conference room, brought together journalists and public affairs professionals to strengthen their reporting skills and resilience against disinformation.
Youngblood, founder of the Center for Global Peace Journalism, guided participants through sessions on writing for social media, peace journalism, and the growing challenges of misinformation in today’s media environment. His session, Navigating a Sea of Disinformation, sparked discussions on how reporters can spot and respond to false information.
Participants said the training gave them practical tools to apply immediately in their work, including strategies to build credibility and foster responsible storytelling in communities.
Youngblood, who has decades of experience in journalism and peace studies, said the program aimed to empower media practitioners to uphold integrity in an era where public trust is constantly tested.
The workshops were supported by East-West Center, United Airlines, the U.S. Embassy in Palau, the Palasia Hotel Palau, the Palau Ministry of State, Office of the President of Palau, Sam’s Tours, Surangel & Sons, Glimpses Media, Sentry Hospitality, Wyndham Garden Hotel Guam, Subway Restaurants, the University of Guam, Tumon Sands Plaza, Chili’s Grill and Bar, and GFS Group.